Smugglers Cove (Love2write and Silence)

The day for the attack finally arrived. Killian had done his best to rest and only do what Kato ordered for the last couple of weeks. He'd had about 3 weeks total of healing and what scared him most was the fact that he didn't feel like his body was anywhere near ready for this kind of exertion. If he ended up in a fight, Killian was afraid he wouldn't be able to make it. His side still gave him considerable trouble and it wasn't wanting to heal. Lungs were ok most of the time though he would occasionally have issues getting enough air.

Holding his arms up he waited for Kato to finish adding an extra layer of gauze as padding for the wound in his side. Then the wrapping started. Each additional layer seemed to make the taping tighter and maybe that was due to the fact that it was getting closer to the wound and he was still nervous about it. "Ow!" Reaching over to his side he gently rested a hand on it and then pulled his hand way so Kato could finish. Killian winced throughout the wrapping process. Just to be sure he had extra support for his liver the doctor ran the wrapping a few layers higher than the wound itself. The ex-captain got off the bed and walked over to the case of weapons. Any gun was above his weight limit for the healing process but, he needed to know that he could at least hold one.

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Pressing the ear bud further into his ear Killian waited almost impatiently at the line of the property. Andy needed to hurry up before someone spotted them standing here waiting. At last he got the signal and he darted over the line in a crouched run. A crouched run was something he perfected at the Killing Fields and it seemed some of the other members of the crew were a little less proficient in that run.

Killian came to a stop at the same window that he'd used to break into the first time. Suddenly he was feeling sick and he couldn't help feeling that they were going to fail. Ignoring the feeling for the time he pushed the window up and tore out the screen again. His face twisted in pain when he hoisted himself up to the window and then dropped inside. While he waited for the others he held onto his side, felt like he'd torn it open and the burning only made it worse. Killian quickly redirected his thoughts once the team was inside. They needed to get out of the basement as fast as possible.

The little woman stared at the Gillick half in indignant horror and half in frustration. It all fit well with her position though she was indignant and horrified for different reasons. Catching Timo's glance she slapped his face. He didn't need to make it clear that he considered himself an equal. Servants didn't do that. She'd been a slave long enough to know some of the customs. Looking at the Gillick again she smiled. "That's why I came to see you." Andy had to swallow her disgust for the time and play his game. Stroke his ego and do whatever it took to get the others some time and to get their weapons to them. Get the Gillick engrossed in his conversation and wanting to tell them about his experiences so that he wouldn't mind if she had to use the bathroom. Or at least he would want her to return.

"I heard of your skills taming the woman." Looking down at Star she pointed to her. "Is that the one? The one that tamed the 'Beast'?" It looked like she might have hit a subject of interest. "She's so tame. I thought she would have been a wild creature for her ability to tame that creature from the games." Andy was praying that her approach would work. Carefully she'd crafted her bait and now she needed to add the hook. "I've been having trouble with this servant." Pointing to Timo her eyebrows raised slightly. "As you saw he thinks himself my equal and he refuses to be broken. What would you suggest?"

While Andy was talking, Killian gave Mike the directions to get to the bathroom. They would need him to be ready for when she excused herself which would hopefully be soon. The older man scuttled up the stairs silently. He was using all the techniques he learned from the wars as a younger man. Anything that may make him less obvious as he skulked through the house and toward the little bathroom.
 
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Kafus leaned back in seat, rubbing his bony chin. He was intrigued. "The technique is different depending on what you are needing from your hand-servant, or how strong they are." He looked the young 'Princess' up and down. "Tell me, why is a little human such as yourself interested in the techniques of how to tame fellow humans? Especially the sort of things that a gillick would use? Humans are notorious for their innate instinct to empathize with the pain of fellow humans, which keeps the majority from being able to inflict the sort of suffering necessary to break one." He stared at her with cold calculating eyes. He snapped his fingers and Star was kneeling by his side. He picked up a knife and began slowly pressing it into the palm her hand, making her grit her teeth in pain. "I wonder...are you in the majority and here for a completely different reason." He watched for the same reaction on the 'cold-hearted' princess. Any give away that she wasn't actually interested in his techniques.
 
Of course he would ask why she wanted to know how to tame humans. "Because I value efficiency and when I have one who will not listen others think it time to take that same liberty." Andy could tell by the alien's tone of voice that he would be testing her. Keeping that same grin she just watched him do as he pleased with Star. Silently she was willing Timo not to move or take any kind of action. Peering over her shoulder at the young captain she rose an eyebrow and then peered back at the Gillick. "Does it suit you to mutilate a servant rather than have an efficient household?"
 
"Hmm." The gillick flips the blade and hands it to Star who obediently cleans it off and bandages her own hand as another hand-servant pulls a chair up for Andy. She'd hooked him. "Most human hand-servants are tamed with relative ease." He begins, talking with obvious pride for his craft. "A few weeks of pain for punishment and pleasure for reward, and they are eager to do whatever you tell them. Like Hunt there for example. Had him 12 years. Never a problem after the first three weeks. My most loyal house-servant. But he's stupid and is only good at a few things. This one..." He gestures to Star. "Much harder. The will's of those who once tamed others themselves is not easily broken, especially when they have something to live for. I found that thing...and I crushed it. Now she only has me to live for." Kafus adjusted in his seat, leaning forward. "The key to a problem hand-servant, is to find what's keeping their will strong. Is it a fellow human? Family? The desire for freedom? Pride? Once you discover it, and break it and you become the new foundation of their will...they will be completely bound and loyal to you."
 
Andy took the seat and leaned forward slightly. She was engrossed, completely drawn in to learn more of this man. Every fiber in her being was tuned into the story being told to her. Nodding slightly she glanced over at Timo as if to observe him. To know if he was the sort that should be easily tamed or not. When he gestured to Star her eyes lit up slightly. It was normal she assumed for his guests to be most interested in this particular servant of his. He was obviously pleased with his handy work. "You crushed...the Beast." Tilting her head she drew her gaze back to the Gillick.

"There was much speculation of why you chose to put him in the games hospital. Some thought perhaps it was to show charity, others thought greed, but greed would have demanded that you return him for that last game. I had thought perhaps your strategy was to make money. He was a profitable venture. Now I see your strategy is far more cunning than I had thought." Andy settled a little deeper into the chair and wiggled some. "So you used him to tame her." The grin broadened on her face. It was for a whole different reason than what it would appear. If only Star knew that Killian was alive. He didn't die at the games hospital as some rumored. It seemed that the man was going to continue his tale and she wiggled again uncomfortably in the chair. "If you'll excuse me...I need the restroom. I want to know the complete process to see this tamer, tamed and then I would like for you to analyze my problem that I brought with today."
 
Kafus looked eager at the prospect. "Go right ahead." He gestured for a guard to escort her and her hand-servant to the bathroom. He stepped forward, hand on the stun gun at his waist and followed the lady to the restroom then waited right outside the door. Not knowing that hell was about to unfold. Timo stood across from the guard. His fists clenched and his jaw tightened. It had taken everything within him in that moment not to grab a weapon from Andy's dress and shoot him where he sat. The sort of things she must have suffered at his hand...it made him tremble with rage. The guard gave him a suspicious look but didn't do anything else.

A moment later the door opened and Timo lept forward grabbing the hand that held his gun and covering his mouth as Mike helped dispatch him quietly and drag him into the bathroom in Andy's place. "The others in place?" He asked with a whisper.
"Let's take this son of ***** down and get Star back." He growled.
 
Mike had been waiting in the bathroom for what seemed forever. He could only pray that Andy would be the next one to step into the bathroom. Finally the little woman promenaded right into the bathroom as if she were queen of the world. How she could still look so amused he didn't know. It was almost as disturbing as her accidental murder of the mistress that bought her. Really he had begun to wonder if it was an accident. Andy lifted her skirts and showed off her little pantaloons while Mike busily unhooked the weapons from her dress. Carefully and silently he laid the weapons out on the floor. They would have to hold this position here until the others could get up here to retrieve a weapon and then secure the house.

The little woman nodded to Mike and let him take on the business with Timo. Andy shot the captain a glare. "They're in place and unarmed. You will come back with me and finish our little talk." It would keep him otherwise occupied while the rest of the crew got their weapons from Mike who still stayed in place but was now armed to the teeth. Only 2 others would visit and then each of them would find one other man to arm.

Returning with Timo she smiled and sat down again. "Please I'm quite anxious for you to examine my servant here. He is quite problematic. A prescription for treatment would be most appreciated." It would get Timo close to the man when the time came. For now she could only pray that he would hold his cool.

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Killian made it to the bathroom and took two guns. He was already wincing with almost every step. The guns were heavy and it was straining the wound even more. Sweat poured down his face with the effort it took to maintain control of his voice rather than groaning with each movement. Moving to the hallway he thrust a knife into the guard's neck and held onto his mouth for a few moments. Just to smother the gurgling. Leaning against the wall for support he slid down it with the guard and then laid the body to rest. A streak of blood was left where Killian had used the wall for additional balance. Panting heavily he caught up with Matt and handed the lad a gun. "Hold position."
 
Kafus stood as Timo stepped forward and circled the boy. "Tell me what techniques you have tried in the past? And what commands he seems to resist the most." He nods as she lists out a few things then stops in front of the boy. "Kneel." He commanded. Timo glanced at Andy and she ordered the same. He did, slowly, gritting his teeth all the while.
"Hmph. Its a simple case of pride, Princess. He has too much of it. Strip him naked...have him do the most meanile, humiliating tasks a human can do and in a few months...or less depending on how much he resists...he will break." Kafus walks away, resuming his seat. "Pride is easily broken. Hers didn't last more than a few weeks. Eventually survival kicks in and a human learns to adapt to their new circumstances." He smiles cruelly at her. "It wouldn't take long to break you either, Princess. You thrive on the power you hold over others, but the moment someone took power over you...you would crumble."
 
"I have tried beating him, giving him more work, taking him to the point of exhaustion and even starvation." Andy barely missed a step as she worked through her mind a few of the little things that would be common among human slavers. "Commands? Any command he resists and if he complies it is clearly against his will. I want efficiency." When the man gave the order she glared at Timo and hissed "Kneel!" Just as she knew he would loath to obey he did and it was perfectly done.

Hopefully the others would get here soon. Andy wasn't sure how far she would have to take her little act. It was all just buying time. "Pride?" Andy almost had to chuckle. Taking her seat she almost felt her smile fade as Kafus made his estimation. If this was truly her it would be quite detrimental but, he didn't know her. Returning the smile to her face she tried to look confident. Where were they? Andy shifted uneasily in her seat. "You would assume that you could break me? One of my status doesn't go missing quite so easily. I came as an equal for advice not for your disgusting analysis of your own peer." Throwing her nose in the air her head came down almost as quickly when the door burst open.

Killian glowered at the man and glanced to the girl. Already Andy had started to scuttle away. She knew to survive she would have to play the piece just a few moments longer. "What is this? You kept him alive and now you're trying to break me!" Rushing for the next door she threw it open. They had a clear pathway and Timo knew his job was to get Star and they would make the dash for the doorway that Andy threw open. Mike was down the hall making sure it was clear. If this job was going to be done right they had to move and fast.

With Kafus in view Killian's blood curdled. "Face me, you bastard!" Grabbing the length of a nearly 5 foot lantern he swung it out and hit the Gillick solidly in the head. "I'm here to kill you and I won't have you running like a coward."
 
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"Master! Look out!" Star screamed unexpectedly. She placed herself in front of the gillick, in way of Killian's rage-filled attack, knife in hand. She glared at Killian with an unexpected amount of hate. Timo rushed to her, to try and grab her and pull her out of the way but she struck him hard across the face with a fist, sending him staggering back.

"Kill him." Kafus grinned at the shocked look on the faces around him. The guards charged various members of the group, but Star charged Killian, knife in her hand and murder in her eyes.

Timo recovered just in time to block the stun gun of a guard and shot him in the chest then shot the one chasing after Andy. This wasn't how it was supposed to go down. His heart beat rapidly with adrenaline and horror. Why was she attacking! Couldn't she see they were here to save her!
 
Andy just ran out of the hall as she planned. There was nothing more she could do here. Being faced with Star was more than Killian had expected. Backing up he tried to put his hands out and hold the weapon so that it pointed away from her. "Star! What are you doing?" Catching her by the wrist he stared into her eyes. The Gillick had done something horrible to her. This wasn't the woman that he had been forced to leave. "Stop fighting me." Then a sharp hit to the side made him gasp for air. Still holding tight to her wrists he bent over to try and catch his breath while she did everything she could to beat on him. He didn't have a lot of options left. Killian would have to knock her out and hope he didn't cause any significant brain damage.
 
Timo shot another guard. He spun around looking for Kafus, but the man had disappeared to leave his guards and Star to deal with the invasion. Coward. He gasped as Killian knocked Star out and she fell limply into his arms. He understood why...something was definitely wrong with her, but he hated that it was still necessary. Matt, Curly, Timo, Duke and Mike covered Killian's retreat with Star. Getting out of the house, proved to be easier than getting in. All the guards had rushed to the top floor at the moment of the attack and had quickly been gunned down. Tazers as their only weapon had proved to be their downfall.

The crew rushed back to the ship, not a single casualty or injury, minus Killian's strained injuries and Star being knocked unconscious. Kato met them at the ramp. "What happened? Is she alright?" He demands, checking her pulse as Killian carried her to the medbay.
 
Killian drug her limp body a few paces before he got to his knees to try and put her over his shoulder. Jogging toward the ship he winced with every jarring step. At least they got out with Star. Something was wrong and he needed Kato to check her. At the ramp Kato was waiting like usual. "She attacked us..." Killian took a deep breath. "Something's wrong. Lets get out of here." Walking toward the medical bay he could feel a slight pull every now and then while the doctor checked her pulse, breathing, and blood pressure.

Laying the woman on the bed he looked her over. "What are you finding?" He knew that Kato could do the eye scan thing. Finally taking a seat he waited for a fuller analysis of what happened. All of this was almost too much. Star wasn't at all who he left. While he knew that she wouldn't be this...this was something that he couldn't have imagined ever happening. "Can you fix it?"
 
"Attacked you!?" Kato leaned over her, searching her body. A moment later he placed her arms and legs into restraints. "It looks like some sort of implant, but I'll need to run more tests to figure out exactly what sort." He turned and looked Killian over. "You're bleeding internally again. Lay down, I'll deal with her after I treat you."

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Kato came back to the waiting group with the results in hand. Star had been placed in a quarantine lock down for her's and the crew's safety. “It’s a complicated implant of some sort. As far as I can tell its been interfering with the emotional chemical signals in her brain. Instead of letting her brain emit the correct emotion to a certain situation or person, it changes it...depending on what Kafus wanted. Take Killian...for example. She didn’t attack until she saw him...and when she did it was with the will to kill him. But her master, she protected with her life. From what I know of this implant, he’s probably been torturing her with negative emotions for anything having to do with Killian or freedom. Then, he flooded her with positive emotions for anything having to do with himself and her role as a hand-servant. A few weeks of this would have been enough to completely confuse her. Its...cruelly ingenious.”

“Can’t you just take it out!?” Timo demanded.

Kato took a deep breath. “It’s been attached to her brain stem. It was designed to be permanent implant. If I try and remove it, the same thing that happened to her 9 years ago may happen all over again, if not worse...that is if it doesn’t kill her first. However the alternative isn’t much better.” He glanced over his shoulder as she woke and began struggling to get out of the restraints in the quarantine chamber. “Even if I did get it out, its not going to change the fact that her brain’s chemical response to Killian has been altered. Every time she sees him now...she’s going to experience fear, pain, anger, hate...every time she thinks of her Master, she’s going to remember him fondly and ache to be back with him.”
 
Killian nodded at the doctor. "Yeah she attacked." Laying on the bed he groaned a little bit when he felt the doctor start to slide a pair of scissors under the wrapping. When the wrapping opened up a puddle of blood almost seemed to run off of his body. Pulling the gauze off revealed the broken stitches and a steady oozing. At least it wasn't gushing as badly as it had been with the initial injury. "How bad is it?" Killian figured that after she'd hit him in the side it only made things worse. It was like she knew where to hit. Pulling away from the doctor slightly he winced. "Ow..." It was especially tender after all the work he shouldn't have been doing and then adding this on top of it. Turning his head away he groaned for a good portion of Kato's work.

When it was all done and over with he laid in the bed quietly by himself for a while. Star was taken to a different room. He felt badly having to knock her out and then having her restrained but, she wasn't herself. Finally after what felt like forever the doctor returned and it wasn't good news. Mike was in the room with Andy as well. The group gathered in the medical bay so that Killian wouldn't have to get up and move around.

At first it was difficult to hear. Killian knew that there was some risk taking it out and he wanted to know the same thing Timo did. Staring ahead blankly he listened to the prognosis. Then it was over. He'd saved her only she would never want anything to do with them again. Star was always going to want to go back and he couldn't see any reason to keep her here, except that he knew the Gillick would be unusually cruel to her. Seemed that he was interested in seeing Star suffer and that wasn't anything he wanted to see happen to her no matter how she felt.

Knowing that it was a difficult diagnosis Mike lowered his head and nodded. He imagined it would have a negative effect on the original crew. Those that didn't know her before were likely not that crushed by the discovery.

The little woman, Andy stood up. "Then we'll do what we have to. Chemicals in the brain are not permanent it just takes time to reverse. Create new pathways and if we remove the chip then her brain will be forced to think differently. It just takes time." Looking at Kato she almost swallowed. Time was one thing he didn't have. Chemical alignment of the brain was usually a 2 year process if done naturally. They would need to do this naturally. Walking over to where Killian was laying in the bed she peered into his face. "You've waited a long time for her. Don't give up now."
 
"Actually, Killian said she was normal as of a month ago and from what I can tell of her blood-work and brain-scan the implant has only been at work for approximately 3 weeks. If we all work together, show her friendly faces such as Mike's, Andy's and Timo's consistently her brain should improve over the next couple months." Kato looks over at Killian. "She's already shown that she's a fighter. Give her time, you could have the old Star back in 3-5 months." He looked over at the group. "Are we in agreement then for me to remove the implant?"

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Star blinked open her eyes, feeling dizzy and confused. She was in some sort of hospital bed, restraints around her wrists and ankles. There was an i.v. in her arm and some sort of bandage around her throat. It took her several minutes of working through the drugs to remember that she'd been fighting for her life...then...knocked out? By the beast? Had she been captured? She looked over at two familiar faces. The older one patted the younger one on the shoulder and the boy stepped through the glass door. "Hi Mama Star." He smiles tenderly. "Remember me? Timo?" He cautiously takes her hand.
"Timo? You've gotten...you've gotten older. How long has it been?"
"About eight years."
Star nods then pulls at the restraints. "Why am I tied down, Timo? Why am I here? Where's Kafus?"
Timo seemed to wince. "Um...he's not here right now. But we're going to take good care of you, I promise. You just concentrate on getting better, alright?"
"Better? I'm fine, I feel fine. I need Kafus. Where is he?"
Timo looked over his shoulder at he older man. He looked alot like Kato. The man shook his head at the Timo who turns back to her, looking pained. "Don't worry about him, ok? Just, rest."

He turns to leave, having to forceably ignore her demands for information on Kafus. He closes the quarantine door, muffling her cries. Timo takes shaky breaths once out and Kato puts a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You did well. She responded well." Timo swiped at a tear, nodding.
"Damn that gillick. If only I'd gone for her first..."
"Everyone might've been killed, including her. We did the right thing. We stuck to the plan and got everyone out."
"Yes...but at what cost?" Timo sighs. "I'm going to update the others. Do you want me to send Mike and Andy?"
Kato nods. "Yes, tell them only a few minutes though. We need to keep her from becoming overly emotionally stimulated right now."
Timo nods in acknowledgement and hurries off.
 
Killian was still floored. It hardly mattered to him what they were saying now. She thought of him as a monster. Anything was worth a try but, if she couldn't ever see him the same again he knew he wouldn't make it living in the same ship. Silently he nodded in agreement to have the chip removed. For the rest of the day he remained laying in the medbay as he had been for the last few weeks. It seemed that this had put his recovery behind and disappointing as it was, it wasn't surprising.

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Mike waited in the medical bay with Killian. So far he'd agreed to bring information since Killian was neither allowed to leave the bed and nor would it be helpful for Star to see him right now. For the most part neither of them said anything. It was obvious that Killian would simply lose track of time and almost every sense around himself. That was a small disturbing factor that he didn't know what or how to fix. Somewhere in the middle it was like the ex-captain would suddenly become aware of himself again and then there was no rhyme or reason to the pattern that took from there.

Finally it was his turn to go see Star. The engineer got up from his spot and wandered out of the medical bay and into the room. Andy hadn't wanted to come in. She wasn't one to handle these sort of things well. Instead it was just Mike. Standing near her bed he smiled at her. "How's the little lady today?"
 
"Tired and annoyed. No one is telling me anything." Star says frustrated. "I know I'm on a ship but I don't know why. Where is Kafus?" She frowned. "Have I been kidnapped? Why won't anyone release me? Its not like I'd hurt you or Kato or Timo." Her relaxes back into her pillow, blinking wearily. "I just want Kafus...please...just...let me see him." She pleads softly. Kato had been wise to keep her on a low dose of sedatives. It was helping her keep calm despite being confused and frustrated.

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Kato was at Killian's side again changing his bandages and checking his liver and other injuries. The doctor had caught Killian in a state of listlessness again. He'd never seen the former Captain act in such a way. "Killian..." He patted the man's arm to try and pull him out of it. "I know these last few months, you've been through hell, and now Star's condition as well. But if you love her...you're going to fight for her with as much zeal as you've done everything else in your own life. Starting with not giving up the will to fight for your own health. The sooner you are well, the sooner you can help her get well too."
 
Mike took a seat next to her bed and nodded. "Oh I could imagine..." He could imagine a great number of things though he didn't elaborate. "I don't know where Kafus is. You're here with us." In many ways talking with Star reminded him of a drug addict. The older man just let her go on and voice her frustrations as she needed. At the very end of it she was still asking for Kafus. "I really don't know where he is." That was something that Mike could say with all honesty. "You know what?" Leaning a little closer to the bed he held her hand for a moment. "You told me you were tired and frustrated. Suppose you rest a little ok?" Giving her hand a gentle pat he stood up and started out of the room. It was difficult to see her like that. Joining Kato he sat down and shook his head. "These could be a couple of long weeks."

"You should all just come stay with me for a while." Andy glanced from man to man. "All you'll end up doing is flying around on this ship and you have to drop me off anyway. She'll need some rest and I can take her to the gardens after a few weeks and let her paint with me. Might do her some good. Besides we all know Killian needs some rest and I doubt he'd get that on the ship."

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It was the wall. Always covered in blood and at least half a dozen men or boys crawling for it. They thought that if they reached the wall it would be alright. Many of them were too slow or they were bludgeoned to death before they reached the other side. Wasn't so uncommon to see men stand at the wall and kill some crawling over it. A horde of faces pressed against the bars as if they should be able to better see this monster...beast. How else could you describe the actions of one that killed so many without any kind of emotion? They were just one more face, one more body, one more enemy to kill so that he could live for another day. At night unthinkable things happened in the cells. He was lucky enough that the guards were afraid to touch him like they did the others.

Displayed like an animal and stripped then sprayed off from the blood that crusted onto his body and hair. There was nothing he could do except wait for them to decide he looked wet enough or the blood was only pale pink streams. Always sticky with blood. It felt like it never came off. Absent mindedly he rubbed his fingers together. It wouldn't come off. Why wouldn't the blood rub off his fingers? He needed his hands to be dry so he could hold onto the weapon. Then that boy....Wincing he stared ahead for a while longer. Ripped the head clear off the kid. He had to survive. Star was waiting for him. She was holding onto him with those tiny hands and peering into his face with those misty eyes. He never got her out of there. Instead he became a monster. Tired, worn out, and hardly caring if he died. He knew he couldn't get her out.

Feeling a hand on his arm he frowned and turned toward the sound of the voice. Kato was there and a pile of bloody gauze next to him. The captain started to chuckle. Blood always blood. "Why? She'll only think I'm a monster. You don't know what I've done." Turning away from the doctor he shook his head. "I never could save her."
 
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Kato chuckles at Killian's statement. "From what I remember of her, that never stopped her from loving you before. Nothing I said to try and deter her would keep her from insistently loving you." Kato smiled encouragingly at him, changing the bandage. “Just because he’s messed with her current memories and emotions of you doesn’t mean he managed to change her memories of you in the past. They are probably there...buried beneath the pain she’s experiencing now. You just have to remind her of them. Remind her of the history you two have and why she fell in love with you in the first place.”

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Timo sat at the ships's kitchen table, with a cup of cocoa in one hand and his cheek in the other. It felt like before, when she'd ended up in the coma and woke without her memory, only this time was somehow more painful. He felt partially responsible somehow...even though he knew he'd done everything he could. Was this how Killian had felt as Captain sometimes? Part of him wanted to ask for advice, but he knew the man was suffering even more than he was at the moment. Andy had suggested going to her house. There was a docking bay close by to keep an eye on the ship and a real house meant real food, beds, sunshine and nature. He knew it would do them all some good and so he'd agreed to set course for her home.

Curly sat down across from him at the table. "She means alot to you, aye? Star?"
Timo glanced up at him. "Hmm? Yeah..." He took a sip of cocoa. "You could say she was the closest thing I had to a mother for almost a year. I may have never gotten out of the street life if it hadn't been for her."
"And now she's..." He made the "crazy in the head" motion with his hand.
"No...she's not crazy. She's just been tortured and now she's confused is all." He sighed. "It could be months before she's better again."
"Months? And what do you expect us to do all that time Captain?" Curly asked.
Timo looked back up at him.
"Don't get me wrong, I understand you care about her and all...but you have a crew to take care of now. That means transport, smuggling, 'taste of the ship life' cruises...whatever. Point is, you can't expect us all to just sit around for an undetermined amount of months."
"I know...I know." Timo sighed.
"Well, the crew will probably cool with being planet side for a couple weeks, but after that...you better have a plan or everyone is gonna go off in their own direction. Including me." Curly stood, leaving his Captain to his thoughts.

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It was the fourth day into their 12 day journey back to Andy's place. And Star was being escorted by Timo and Kato around the ship to meet the crew. "Wow, Timo. I can't believe you're actually the Captain now of your own ship. That's amazing. What are you going to do with it?"
"I don't know. We haven't really decided. None of us really like the idea of smuggling but there are plenty of other legal options. We're waiting to see what opportunities present themselves."
Star nods and pats him on the shoulder. "Well good for you. I'm glad you've managed to turn out alright."
"Alot thanks you to Mamma Star."
"Don't call me that." She scoffs. "You make me feel old."
"Well technically you're almost 40."
"Shhhhh...." Her teasingly smile faded as she got that feeling that something was horribly wrong again. She wasn't supposed to be here. She needed to go back. Her master needed her. He'd be so angry if he knew she wasn't doing everything she could to get back to him.

Timo laughs. It was so strange how much of her personality seemed to be untouched. But then there were moments, like now where she'd get that sickness look of displacement. Like she wanted to be happy but felt guilty about it. "How long till we get back to Kafus?" She asks yet again as they near the engineering section of the ship to say hello to Mike.
"Star..." Timo couldn't stand it anymore. He grabs her arm and turns her to him. "Kafus is dead...alright? He's dead. He was a monster...he tortured you...made you think that you love him but you don't! He's a monster and he's dead! You're safe now, ok?"

"No..." Star pulled away from him in horror. "No! I don't believe you! He can't be dead...I love him. Master...." She wailed. Timo tried to hold her but she pushed him away. "No! Take me back...take me back to him!" She charged down the hallway searching for the navigation room.
"Star! Star wait!" Timo rushed after her. He knew Kato had said not to say anything but...he couldn't help himself. She talked about him like a god when he was actually the devil.
He rounds the corner into the navigation room where Star was holding a gun at him. Timo stopped dead in his tracks raising his hands. "TAKE ME TO HIM! NOW!"
 
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